Cooling system and method for operating same

ABSTRACT

An air conditioning system for appropriately controlling the air conditioning capacity by preventing occurrence of cavitation of a refrigerant pump and a method of operating the system are provided. 
     It includes an evaporator for vaporizing a refrigerant by exchanging heat with air in a room to be air-conditioned, a condenser for liquefying a refrigerant gas vaporized by the evaporator, a refrigerant pump for feeding a refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser to the evaporator, a refrigerant liquid tank disposed between the condenser and the refrigerant pump to temporarily store the refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser, first cold water piping for supplying cold water generated from a heat source machine to the condenser, second cold water piping for supplying the cold water generated from the heat source machine to the refrigerant liquid tank, a refrigerant liquid temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank and a control unit for controlling to supply the cold water desired for condensation of the refrigerant gas to the condenser.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an air conditioning system of the type that makes a refrigerant pump circulate a refrigerant desired for an air conditioning device disposed in a room to be air-conditioned and a method of operating the air conditioning system.

BACKGROUND ART

A refrigerant forced circulation type cooling system that performs cooling by exchanging heat between cold water prepared on the primary side and a refrigerant and then circulating the heat-exchanged refrigerant by a refrigerant pump on the secondary side has been adopted so far in order to increase heat transport efficiency by latent heat transport or as a countermeasure taken in an application where circulation of cold water in a room to be air-conditioned is not desirable. In a cooling system of the type as mentioned above, the cooling capacity is controlled by changing the operation state of the refrigerant pump or the quantity of cold water supplied thereto with load fluctuation. However, when the balance between the pressure in a refrigerant circulation system and the temperature of the refrigerant is lost in controlling the cooling capacity, cavitation may occur on the suction side of the refrigerant pump and the performance of the refrigerant pump may be suddenly degraded.

Under the circumstances as mentioned above, various techniques of preventing occurrence of cavitation in a refrigerant pump in a refrigerant forced circulation type cooling system are proposed. In a controlling technique of preventing occurrence of cavitation in a cooling system disclosed, for example, in Patent Document 1, occurrence of cavitation is prevented by making a pressure reducing speed different from a temperature reducing speed in a refrigerant circulation system by stepwise increasing the quantity of cold water supplied thereto when a load exerted onto the system is increased and hence the quantity of cold water supplied thereto is to be increased.

PRIOR ART DOCUMENT Patent Document

Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2008-281218

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Problem to be Solved by the Invention

However, in the system of preventing occurrence of cavitation by stepwise adjusting a speed at which the quantity of cold water supplied thereto is increased which is disclosed in the Patent Document 1, since the temperature of a refrigerant liquid in a condenser 6 a is lowered with cold water so as to cope with load fluctuation as illustrated in FIG. 7, the pressure of the refrigerant in the condenser 6 a may be reduced to cause a reduction in evaporating temperature of an evaporator 7 a in a room to be air-conditioned. When the evaporating temperature of the evaporator 7 a is reduced, the inside of the room to be air-conditioned may be excessively cooled and may not be appropriately air-conditioned and energy-saving operation may not be attained. Therefore, it becomes important to control the pressure in the system when the room to be air-conditioned is excessively cooled in order to appropriately control the air-conditioning capacity.

In view of the above mentioned problem of related art, the present invention aims to provide an air conditioning system that prevents occurrence of cavitation in a refrigerant pump and attains appropriate control of the air conditioning capacity and a method of operating the air conditioning system.

Means for Solving the Problems

In order to solve the above mentioned problem, the present invention provides an air conditioning system that includes an evaporator for vaporizing a refrigerant by exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air in a room to be air-conditioned, a condenser for liquefying a refrigerant gas vaporized by the evaporator, a refrigerant pump for feeding a refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser to the evaporator, a refrigerant liquid tank disposed between the condenser and the refrigerant pump to temporarily store the refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser and first cold water piping for supplying cold water generated from a heat source machine to the condenser, and further includes second cold water piping for supplying the cold water generated from the heat source machine to the refrigerant liquid tank, a refrigerant liquid temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank and a control unit for controlling to supply the cold water desired for condensation of the refrigerant gas to the condenser.

In the air conditioning system, the first cold water piping is series-connected with the second cold water piping to flow the cold water from the heat source machine to the condenser and the refrigerant liquid tank in series.

In the air conditioning system, the first cold water piping is connected with the second cold water piping such that the cold water flows from the heat source machine to the condenser via the refrigerant liquid tank.

The air conditioning system further includes pressure sensors for measuring a discharge pressure and a suction pressure of the refrigerant pump and an inverter for changing an operating frequency of the refrigerant pump, wherein the operating frequency of the refrigerant pump is controlled by the control unit such that a differential pressure between the discharge pressure and the suction pressure has a set value.

The air conditioning system further includes a zero point temperature detection unit for detecting a zero point temperature in the room to be air-conditioned and a condensate temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser, wherein when the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank is lower than the zero point temperature detected by the zero point temperature detection unit, the flow rate of the cold water into the refrigerant liquid tank is adjusted such that the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank becomes higher than the zero point temperature in the room and the flow rate of the cold water into the condenser is adjusted such that the temperature of the liquefied refrigerant in the condenser becomes higher than the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank by the control unit.

In the air conditioning system, an evaporating temperature is calculated from the suction pressure of the refrigerant pump and the cold water is supplied to the refrigerant liquid tank such that the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank becomes lower than the calculated evaporating temperature by the control unit.

In order to solve the above mentioned problem, the present invention also provides a method of operating an air conditioning system that includes an evaporator for vaporizing a refrigerant by exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air in a room to be air-conditioned, a condenser for liquefying a refrigerant gas vaporized by the evaporator, a refrigerant pump for feeding a refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser to the evaporator, a refrigerant liquid tank disposed between the condenser and the refrigerant pump to temporarily store the refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser and cold water piping for supplying cold water generated from a heat source machine to the condenser and the refrigerant liquid tank, and controls the operations of the above components by a control unit, wherein cold water desired for condensation of the refrigerant is supplied to the condenser.

Effect of the Invention

According to the present invention, prevention of occurrence of cavitation and energy-saving operation are promoted by appropriately controlling the air conditioning capacity of the system.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block configuration diagram of an embodiment 1 of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block configuration diagram of an embodiment 2 of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a block configuration diagram of an embodiment 3 of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a block configuration diagram of an embodiment 4 of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an operation of controlling the flow rate of cold water into a condenser according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an operation of controlling the flow rate of cold water into a refrigerant liquid tank according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a block configuration diagram of related art.

MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 1 illustrates a block configuration diagram of an embodiment 1 of the present invention. An air conditioning system includes evaporators 21 a and 21 b for vaporizing a refrigerant by exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air in a room to be air-conditioned, a condenser 10 for liquefying a refrigerant gas vaporized by the evaporators, a refrigerant pump 5 for circulating the refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser 10 to the evaporators 21 a and 21 b, a condensate temperature sensor 11 for measuring a temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the condenser 10, a refrigerant liquid tank 60 disposed between the condenser 10 and the refrigerant pump 50 to temporarily store the refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser 10, first cold water piping 71 a for supplying cold water generated from a heat source machine 70 to the condenser 10 by a cold water pump 72 and the like.

The air conditioning system also includes a refrigerant cooling mechanism 62 for cooling the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank 60, second cold water piping 71 b for supplying the cold water generated from the heat source machine 70 to the refrigerant cooling mechanism 62, a refrigerant liquid temperature sensor 61 for measuring a temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank 60, and a control unit 74 for controlling to supply cold water of a quantity desired for condensation of the refrigerant to the condenser 10 by the cold water pump 72 and to supply a predetermined quantity of cold water to the refrigerant liquid tank 60 such that the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank 60 becomes lower than an evaporating temperature corresponding to a suction pressure of the refrigerant pump 50.

The evaporators 21 a and 21 b are respectively incorporated into cooling devices 20 a and 20 b together with fans 22 a and 22 b and are disposed in the room to be air-conditioned. The refrigerant liquid circulates in the evaporators 21 a and 21 b, and hot airs 23 a and 23 b in the room are blown against the refrigerant liquid by the fans 22 a and 22 b to evaporate the refrigerant liquid in the devices to remove heat from the blown hot airs. As a result, the hot airs 23 a and 23 b in the room are cooled and are blown out into the room as cooled airs 24 a and 24 b.

On the other hand, a refrigerant gas gasified by being evaporated by the evaporators 21 a and 21 b is sent to the condenser 10 via a refrigerant gas pipe 30 and is liquefied by heat exchange performed between it and the cold water from the heat source machine 70. The liquefied refrigerant is temporarily stored in the refrigerant tank 60 and is sent from within the tank 60 to the evaporators 21 a and 21 b by the refrigerant pump 50 via a refrigerant liquid pipe 31. In the above mentioned case, the flow rate of the cold water is adjusted such that the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the condenser measured by the condensate temperature sensor 11 has a designed value desired for cooling in the cooling devices 20 a and 20 b. The adjustment is made by controlling the flow rate of the cold water in the cold water pump 72 by the control unit 74 or by controlling the flow rate by adjusting opening of a three-way valve 73 so as not to excessively reduce the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the condenser.

The above mentioned controlling operation is executed in accordance with an operation flow illustrated in FIG. 5. That is, after execution of the operation has been started in step (S) 101, a temperature of the condensate in the condenser 10 is measured by the sensor 11 in S102 and the temperature of the condensate is compared with a designed value desired for cooling by the cooling devices 20 a and 20 b so as to determine whether it is higher than the designed value in S103. When NO (lower) in S103, the quantity of cold water is controlled to be reduced in S105 and the operation returns to S102. When YES in S103, it is determined whether the condensate temperature is almost equal to the designed value in S104. When YES in S104, execution of the operation is terminated in S107. When NO (higher) in S104, the quantity of the cold water is controlled to be increased in S106 and the operation returns to S102.

The control unit 74 also controls to measure a temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank 60 by the refrigerant liquid temperature sensor 61 and to calculate an evaporating temperature of a suction part of the refrigerant pump 50 from a suction side pressure value measured by a suction pressure sensor 51. Then, the control unit 74 controls to adjust the flow rate of the cold water flowing into the refrigerant liquid tank 60 such that the measured temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the tank is lower than the calculated evaporating temperature of the suction part of the refrigerant pump 50 by 1 to 2° C. This controlling operation is executed in accordance with an operation flow illustrated in FIG. 6.

After execution of the operation has been started in step (S) 201, the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank is measured and the evaporating temperature is calculated from the pressure value on the suction side of the refrigerant pump in S202. Then, it is determined whether the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the tank is lower than the calculated evaporating temperature, for example, by about 2° C. in S203. When YES in S203, execution of the operation is terminated in S207. When NO in S203, it is determined whether the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the tank is lower than the calculated evaporating temperature, for example, by a value more than 2° C. in S204. When YES in S204, the quantity of cold water is controlled to be reduced in S205 and the operation returns to S202. When NO in S204, the quantity of the cold water is controlled to be increased in S206 and the operation returns to S202.

Since, the embodiment 1 is configured such that heat exchange is shared by excessively cooling the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank, liquefying the refrigerant gas by the condenser and exchanging the desired amount of heat by the cooling devices as described above, it is allowed to suppress a reduction in pressure of the refrigerant in the condenser 10. Thus, it is allowed to suppress a reduction in pressure in the refrigerant circulation system to prevent the inside of the room to be air-conditioned from being excessively cooled, thereby performing the appropriate operation. In addition, it is allowed to prevent occurrence of cavitation by controlling a relation between the evaporating temperature on the suction side of the refrigerant pump 50 and the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 2 illustrates a block configuration diagram of an embodiment 2 of the present invention. The temperature of the refrigerant which has been excessively cooled in the refrigerant liquid tank 60 is controlled to be lower than the temperature of the refrigerant liquefied by the condenser 10 as described in the embodiment 1. Therefore, the embodiment 2 is configured such that cold water of a temperature which is lower than the temperature of the cold water flowing into the condenser 10 flows into the refrigerant liquid tank 60 in order to facilitate the controlling operation.

Specifically, first cold water piping 71 a and second cold water piping 71 b for supplying cold water respectively to the condenser 10 and the refrigerant liquid tank 60 are series-connected with each other. The cold water is cascade-used such that the cold water from the heat source machine 70 is first supplied to the refrigerant tank 60 to be heat-exchanged with the refrigerant liquid and the cold water which has been increased in temperature by heat exchange is then supplied to the condenser 10 to be heat-changed with the refrigerant gas so as to liquefy the refrigerant in the above mentioned connection. It is allowed to efficiently distribute heat to the refrigerant liquid tank 60 and the condenser 10 with cold water and to attain energy-saving operation of the heat source machine by cascade-using the cold water in the above mentioned manner.

Embodiment 3

FIG. 3 illustrates a block configuration diagram of an embodiment 3 of the present invention. 51 denotes the refrigerant pump suction pressure sensor for measuring the suction pressure of the refrigerant pump 50, 52 denotes a refrigerant pump discharge pressure sensor for measuring a discharge pressure of the refrigerant pump 50, and 53 denotes an inverter for changing an operating frequency of the refrigerant pump 50. The control unit 74 controls the operating frequency of the inverter 53 such that a difference between a value measured by the suction pressure sensor 51 and a value measured by the discharge pressure sensor 52 has a set value. In the embodiment 3, since a differential pressure between the suction pressure and the discharge pressure of the refrigerant pump 50 is maintained at the set value, it is allowed to suppress an increase in evaporating pressure by suppressing an increase in pressure in the refrigerant circulation system when a load is partially exerted on it and hence it is allowed to appropriately control the cooling capacity of the air conditioning system.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 4 illustrates a block configuration diagram of an embodiment 4 of the present invention. In the embodiment 4, an in-room zero point temperature detection unit 80 for detecting a zero point temperature of a room to be air-conditioned 26 is installed. In the above mentioned configuration, when a value detected by the zero point temperature detection unit 80 is higher than a temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank 60, the control unit 74 controls to decrease the flow rate of cold water into the refrigerant liquid tank 60 such that the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank 60 becomes higher than the in-room zero point temperature. The control unit 74 controls to decrease the flow rate of the cold water such that a temperature of the refrigerant at an outlet of the condenser 10 becomes higher than the set temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank 60 simultaneously.

According to the embodiment 4, it is allowed to prevent generation of dew condensation by controlling the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank 60 and the same effects as those attained by the above embodiments are obtained. That is, it is allowed to prevent occurrence of cavitation while suppressing an increase in pressure in the refrigerant circulation system and energy-saving operation is allowed by cascade-using the cold water.

Description of Reference Numerals or Symbols

10: condenser, 11: condensate temperature sensor, 20 a, 20 b: cooling device, 21 a, 21 b: evaporator, 22 a, 22 b: fan, 26: room to be air-conditioned, 30: refrigerant gas pipe, 31: refrigerant liquid pipe, 50: refrigerant pump, 51: suction pressure sensor, 52: discharge pressure sensor, 53: inverter, 60: refrigerant liquid tank, 61: refrigerant liquid temperature sensor, 62: refrigerant cooling mechanism, 70: heat source machine, 71 a: first cold water piping, 71 b: second cold water piping, 72: cold water pump, 73: three-way valve, 74: control unit, 80: in-room zero point temperature detection unit. 

1. An air conditioning system comprising: an evaporator for vaporizing a refrigerant by exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air in a room to be air-conditioned; a condenser for liquefying a refrigerant gas vaporized by the evaporator; a refrigerant pump for feeding a refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser to the evaporator; a refrigerant liquid tank disposed between the condenser and the refrigerant pump to temporarily store the refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser; and first cold water piping for supplying cold water generated from a heat source machine to the condenser, and further comprising: second cold water piping for supplying the cold water generated from the heat source machine to the refrigerant liquid tank; a refrigerant liquid temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank; and a control unit for controlling to supply the cold water desired for condensation of the refrigerant gas to the condenser.
 2. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein the first cold water piping is series-connected with the second cold water piping to flow the cold water from the heat source machine to the condenser and the refrigerant liquid tank in series.
 3. The air conditioning system according to claim 2, wherein the first cold water piping is connected with the second cold water piping such that the cold water flows from the heat source machine to the condenser via the refrigerant liquid tank.
 4. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising: pressure sensors for measuring a discharge pressure and a suction pressure of the refrigerant pump; and an inverter for changing an operating frequency of the refrigerant pump, wherein the operating frequency of the refrigerant pump is controlled by the control unit such that a differential pressure between the discharge pressure and the suction pressure has a set value.
 5. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, further comprising: a zero point temperature detection unit for detecting a zero point temperature in the room to be air-conditioned; and a condensate temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser, wherein when the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank is lower than the zero point temperature detected by the zero point temperature detection unit, the flow rate of the cold water into the refrigerant liquid tank is adjusted such that the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank becomes higher than the zero point temperature in the room and the flow rate of the cold water into the condenser is adjusted such that the temperature of the liquefied refrigerant in the condenser becomes higher than the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank by the control unit.
 6. The air conditioning system according to claim 1, wherein an evaporating temperature is calculated from the suction pressure of the refrigerant pump and the cold water is supplied to the refrigerant liquid tank such that the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank becomes lower than the calculated evaporating temperature by the control unit.
 7. A method of operating an air conditioning system comprising: an evaporator for vaporizing a refrigerant by exchanging heat between the refrigerant and air in a room to be air-conditioned; a condenser for liquefying a refrigerant gas vaporized by the evaporator; a refrigerant pump for feeding a refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser to the evaporator; a refrigerant liquid tank disposed between the condenser and the refrigerant pump to temporarily store the refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser; and cold water piping for supplying cold water generated from a heat source machine to the condenser and the refrigerant liquid tank, and controlling the operations of the above components by a control unit, wherein cold water desired for condensation of the refrigerant is supplied to the condenser.
 8. The method of operating the air conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein the cold water piping for supplying the cold water to the condenser is series-connected with the cold water piping for supplying the cold water to the refrigerant liquid tank to flow the cold water from the heat source machine to the condenser and the refrigerant liquid tank in series.
 9. The method of operating the air conditioning system according to claim 8, wherein the cold water is supplied from the heat source machine to the condenser via the refrigerant liquid tank.
 10. The method of operating the air conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein a discharge pressure and a suction pressure of the refrigerant pump are measured and an operating frequency of the refrigerant pump is controlled such that a differential pressure between the discharge pressure and the suction pressure has a set value.
 11. The method of operating the air conditioning system according to claim 7, further comprising: a zero point temperature detection unit for detecting a zero point temperature in the room to be air-conditioned; and a condensate temperature sensor for measuring a temperature of the refrigerant liquid liquefied by the condenser, wherein when the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank is lower than the zero point temperature detected by the zero point temperature detection unit, the flow rate of the cold water into the refrigerant liquid tank is adjusted such that the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank becomes higher than the zero point temperature in the room, and the flow rate of the cold water into the condenser is adjusted such that the temperature of the liquefied refrigerant in the condenser becomes higher than the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank.
 12. The method of operating the air conditioning system according to claim 7, wherein an evaporating temperature is calculated from the suction pressure at an inlet of the refrigerant pump and the cold water is supplied to the refrigerant liquid tank such that the temperature of the refrigerant liquid in the refrigerant liquid tank becomes lower than the calculated evaporating temperature. 